Meter.



C. H. TAYLOR.

METER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30, 1912.

1 173,395 Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

2 SH EETSSHEET 1.

Fig-1 I liesses C s H on C. H. TAYLOR.

METER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30. 1912.

1,173,395. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

22s Tax/0r I g n Verz/ar W/Messes CHARLES I-IAVELOCK TAYLOR, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

METER.

Application filed August 30, 1912. Serial No. 717,918.

To all whom it may concern; 7

Be it known that 1, CHARLES HAVELOCK TAYLOR, of the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. V

This invention relatesto meters of the type disclosed in application Serial No. 619121 filed Aprilo, 1911, and more particularly to themeans for preventing the vertical vibration or chattering of the piston. V

The object of the invention is to improve this means and render the same more sensitive and at the same time more positive in its action. 7

To this end the invention may be said briefly to consist of means affording a yielding' and maximum resistance to movement of the piston faster than a given degree and uniform minimum resistance to regular movement. I I

More specifically speaking this means "comprises a pair of intermeshing parts one upon the valve spindle and the other in operative relation with a balance-wheel through the medium of a yielding frictional connection.

The purpose of the intermeshing parts is to secure movement of the balance-wheel in unison with the valve, the balance-wheel controlling the movement and making it uniform, and the yielding connection has for its function to slip the connection between the intermeshing parts and balancewheel in the event of a sudden increase in flow which gives a correspondingly rapid rise to the valve and would without the yielding of. the connection increase the velocity of the balance-wheel and the momentum of the latter would under such conditions carry the valve above its proper position, this is prevented by the spring slipping on the face of the balance-wheel until the motion of the latter returns again to normal.

For full comprehension, however, of .my invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference "characters indicate the same parts, and

wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a meter with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line AAFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the means operatively connecting the piston to the balance-wheel; Fig. 4c isa detail sectional view taken on line B B Fig. 3 and illustrating the spring forming the yielding connection between the piston operated means and the balance-wheel. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view of the means'mounted on the upper endof the piston rod; Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation Specification of Letters Patent Patented Feb. 29 1916. v

and partly in section illustrating the detail construction of the governor; and Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of the turbine. I

' The meter to which my present invention is applied comprises a casing 2 divided by a cylindrical, wall 20 into fluid-receiving and supplying ducts 3 and 4 respectively: the top or cover of this casing having a shallow circular chamber 6 formed therein; and a piston 7 within the cylindrical'chamber 20 having its rod 8 projecting upwardly through and slidable in the cover. The cylindrical wall 29 is formed with holes 21 effecting a communication between the ducts 3 and L and arranged in a spiral series and increasing progressively in area from the lower to the upper end of the series. The'aggregate area of these ports is such that the wall 20 will offer a resistance supplemented by the weight of the piston, establishing when there is a flow, a constant pressure within the duct 3 greater than that in the duct 4 and this difference in pressure is utilized to provide the power to impart a constant movement to a member adapted to actuate the registeringmechanism and variable automatically with the flow. This member, indicated at 30, is carried at the upper end of the piston rod 8, and it is of cylindrical form with its perimeter pro-. vided with gear teeth 31 of saw-tooth form and disposed parallel to the axis, the upper edge' 32 of the cylinder being of helical form and the lower edge 33 circular and at right angles to the axis, the resultant surface progressively' decreasing in effective area from the circular end, which is commensurate with the maximum flow, to the helical end. terminating in a point bearing one tooth only. Rotary movement is imparted tothis member bv the fluid being measured through the medium of a turbine 50 driven by the fluid in duct 3 under the pressure due to the resistance oflered by wall 20 and the weight of the piston and the parts sustained by the latter. This operation is effected by the following construction: The lower end of the cylindrical wall 20 is interiorlv chambered as at 60 and the continuity of the inner side of the wall 18 maintained by an annular wall section 61 of wire gage serving as a strainer to prevent clogging of the chamber. A pair of pipes 62 leads from this chamber to a pair of nozzles 63 preferably cast ina circular cover plate 64: secured, by screws 65 for instance, over the before mentioned chamber 66 which has a central exhaust port 67 communicating with the duct The turbine 50 is located in this chamber and carried on the lower end of a shaft 70, the nozzles being arranged to project their jets obliquely downwardly and tangentially relatively to the circumferential portion of the upper side of the turbine. This turbine consists of a rim having a series of substantially radial and substantially' crescent-shaped buckets T6 inclosed by an outer rim or band 77 adapted to brace the buckets and coact with the rim 75 in forming, with the buckets, pockets receiving the impact of the jets and consequently obtaining maximum efficiency therefrom, a hub 78 and web 7 9 rigidly connecting these parts with the shaft. The upper portion of this shaft has fixed thereon an elongated pinion 80 which intermeshes with a large gear 81 fixed upon the piston rod 8 near the upper end thereof. This arrangement provides a motive fluid by-pass from duct 3 to duct through pipes 62, nozzles 6 the impact chambers between the buckets 76, the turbine chamber 66, exhaust port 07, to the duct +l: and the power developed is transmitted from the turbine through its shaft 70 elongated pinion S0 and gear wheel 81 to the piston rod 8 and consequently the cylindro-helical member 30 and the piston 7.

The cylindro-helical member imparts motion to the registering devices through the medium of a spur gear 100 having saw-teeth and held yieldingly in intermeshing relation with the saw-toothed surface of such member. while a pinion 102 rigidly connected to the gear 100 intermeshes with a gear wheel 103 rigidly mounted on a shaft 105 from which rotary movement is imparted to the recording devices. Before describing the connection between the shaft and these devices, however, I will describe the manner in which the piston rod 8, shafts 70 and 105, and the port wall 20 are mounted and the piston rod is vertically sustained in the meter shown.

The port wall 20 rests on the top of a fixed cylindrical wall 200 within the globular lower portion 201 of the casing and having a lateral extension 202 terminating in a flanged coupling port 203 affording a means for effecting a connection with the source of supply of the fluid to be measured, the whole constituting the intake duct 3. This lower end of the port wall and the too of the wall 200 are correspondingly grooved to receive a gasket 205, and the upper end of 20 is flanged as at 206 alfording a means of connection with the underside of a floorplate 21.0 in which the turbine chamber 06 and port (37 before mentioned are formed. The piston rod also passes through this floor plate and the opening to accommodate it has fitted therein an elongated sleeve 212 with its lower end reduced slightly in di ameter and protruding through the floorplate, a collar 213 formed on the sleeve and embedded in the upper face of the floor plate and a nut 214 screwed on the said protruding end clamping the device rigidly in position perpendicular to the plate. The piston rod is centered in this by short sleeves 215 of bronze or other suitable antifriction metal. located at opposite ends of the latter thus steady g the piston and its rod and permitting vertical movement and rot ation thereof.

The rotation of the piston in the cylindrical port-wall 20 is facilitated and leakage therebetween is prevented by a fiat packing ring 216 rotatably mounted upon the underside of the piston and extending slightly beyond the periphery, the edge thereof being beveled, it being retained loosely by the overhupping heads of a series of retaining screws; and in order to secure minimum leakage when the piston is in its lowermost position the portion of the wall above and contiguous to the annular chamber 60 is inwardly inclined.

The pinicns 100 and 102 are carried by a shaft 220 mounted in a bearing frame 221 hinged upon the shaft 105 and yieldingly held in position with the pinion 100 intermeshing with the teeth of the member 30, or prepared to do so, by a bow spring 41-40 having fixed end fastened to a bracket 100 carried by and fixed upon the cover plate 0% or other stationary part of the meter the movement of such frame being arrested by a stop 225 also carried by the bracket.

The shaft 70 is supported in a frame consisting of the turbine-chamber cover (i l having preferably cast in one therewith a standard curred in cross-section and diminisned toward its upper end which is made to extend horizontally to form a bearing 22? having the upper end of the shaft 70 mounted therein, such shaft being supported at a point about, but near, the cover plate (31- in a bearing plate 275 forming a part of the governor, an essential part of this meter and hereinafter fully described. This bearing plate is centrally chambered and contains a cup 228 of preferably, hardened steel or other suitable material for the purpose serving as a raceway for a series of balls 229. r The thrust is transmitted from the shaft to these balls throughha conical hub 230 sustaining a hub 219 forming a part of the governor, a set-screw 231 effecting the required connection between the hub 219 and shaft. r

The shaft 105 is supported in a frame 250 extending laterally from the bracket 100 and presenting a pair of bearing arms 251 252 carrying the shaft, while the upper end of the latter is braced by a stay 253 extending from'the standard 226. v

A dome'300, secured to the top of the floor plate 210 cover all the mechanism above the latter, has holes 301,302, in axial alinement with the piston rod 8 and shaft 105, and carries the dial case 305 containing the usual planetary gear obtaining its power from shaft 105 through a shaft 306 protrud ing downwardly through the hole 301 packed as at 299, and a pair of clutch blocks 307, 308 secured upon the contiguous ends of the respective shafts 105 and 306, the block 308 having a pair of clutch-pins 310 straddling the block 307 from which torque is transmitted through the. pins, block 308, and

shaft 306 from shaft 105 to the planetary gears and recording dials.

An lndicatingidevice 15 provided from which the volume of fluid passing through the meter can at any time be ascertained at a glance, consisting of a tubular cap 350 having a glazed side 351 having graduations 352 with 'Wl'llCh coacts an lndlcator rod 353 set in the upper end of the piston rod 8;the joint between the tubes 350 and 351 being packed. by a packing 360 and a tubular plug 361, a nut 362 serving as a stop to limit the upward movement of the piston rod. In order topermit the piston to rotate freely when its rod comes into contact with the nut 362 as just mentioned, which is likely to occur in the event of the meter-being overloaded, a cushion 602 and raceways 600 and 601 containing balls- 603 .are embedded in the upper side of the hub of gear-wheel 81. indicator rod has perfectly free movement in the indicator tube. V

The mechanism thus far described is sufficient for theoperation of both the registering and indicating devices of the meter,

but correct readings of the registering dials cannot be obtained without constant speed of the turbine and consequently the fluctuable member 30. The governor before mentioned secures this constancy of operation and is specially designed and constructed to meet the requirements of powerfulness and sensitiveness. V

This governor comprises. the following elements: The bearing plate 27 5 before mentioned having a central boss 500 through It may be noted that the which it is secured rigidly to the cover plate 64 by screws 501 for instance, the periphery of the plate having a circumferential flange 502 the circumferential surface of which and .of the body of the plate presents a smooth face. The hub 219, also before mentioned, having a pair of, diametrically oppositely extending arms -1, 505 having their free ends 507 extending tangentially and of horizontal U-form, the end of each leg having a flat spring 508 clamped in a diagonal slit therein screws 509, these springs carrying weighted brake-heads at their opposite ends and serving as fulcrums therefor. Each brake-head consists of a socket 510 for a brake-shoe 51.2 of babbet metal or the like and slit at its top and bottom sides to receive the-radially outer ends of the springs 508 which are clamped therein by screws 513; and the forward side of the head is increased in thickness to constitute weight 515. As greater-uniformity of action is obtained by causing these brake shoes to act in unison theyare yoked together by a rigid link 516; and in order to provide for a fine adjust ment a pair of adjustable helical springs 517 are made to resist the radial movement of the weights. A pair of radial arms 518, 519 is clamped upon the shaft and between them and the weights'the respective helical springs are connected, the end 520 of arm 519 servinglas a thumb-piece to facllltate the adjustment of the arms from one angular position to another, the clamps being, of course, first loosened to permit of this action. The purpose of the partition or floor plate 210 is'to prevent the motive fluid passing through the meter and carrying more or less foreign particles, from coming into contact with the main operating parts within the dome and clogging them, pressure equalizing port 450 being provided however to permit of the dome being flooded with a still body of the motive fluid.

The turbine is separately inclosed for the purpose of preventing heavy eddies 1n the flowing motive fluid from disturbing the accuracy of its operation.

The purposeof the clutch blocks 307, 308 is to permit the dial-case and planetary gears to be lifted away from the main actuating parts of themeter with the dome when it is desired to inspect the said main parts, and return the dome to position again, with out the necessity of disorganizing the operating parts, the blocks being in operative relation immediately the pins 310 straddle,

the block 307.

In order to prevent vertical vibration or chattering of the piston aworm 125 is out in the piston rod 8 and a worm-wheel 126 intermeshingtherewith is mounted rigidly on a horizontal shaft 427 having hardened conical ends 428 bearing in plugs 4:29 screwed through brackets 130 cast upon the cover plate 6 1:. One end of this shaft is dimin' ished to form a shoulder 131 and a weighted balance wheel 7-. z is mounted loosely on this reduced end and a preferably triangular bow-spring 4:33 centrally perforated is fitted over such reduced shaft-end. between the shoulder and the wheel upon which latter the ends of the spring hear. The pressure of the spring is taken up and its tension adjusted by an adjusting nut 4-3 1 and lock-nut 12-35 screwed upon this reduced shaft end which threaded for the purpose; and a pin 11 -36 carried by the shoulder 4-51 enters a perforation in the spring and prevents relative movement between the shaft and spring.

Operation: When no fluid is being drawn from duct l the piston will rest upon the contracted lower portion of the port wall 20 and with its edge in close proximity to but beneath the lowest port the helical series and consequently the port oi' smallest capacity. Under this condition the motive 'tluid will. idly fill the duct 3, chamber 60, pipes 62, the nozzles 63, the turbine chamber 66, port 67, duct i and the cylindrical space above the piston within the wall 20, and there will consequently be uniformity of pressure on both sides of the piston the weight thereof and of the parts carried thereby being sustained by the lower end oi the wall 20. Immediately the smallest flow is started from the duct 4 a difference in pressure is set up between the ducts i and 3 and a flow is started from duct 8 through the by-pass 60, 62, 63, 6G and 67 to duct 4i and jets are projected from the nozzles and the turbine and consequently the piston commences to rotate. This rotary motion of the piston facilitates its upward move ment, and it uncovers sufficient port-area to accommodate the flow, and as the flow increases or diminishes the fluctuations are followed to the most minute degree by the piston, and the movements up or down according to the amplification or diminution of the flow, and however small, are facilitated and the response of the meter accelerated by the rotary movement of the piston. The power developed in the turbine depends upon the pressure it is necessary for the motive fluid in duct 3 to exert in lifting and sustaining the weight of the piston and that carried by it. This rotary motion is transmitted from the turbine to the piston through shaft 70 pinion 8O gear wheel 81 and the piston rod 8. The velocity of the turbine is maintained constant by the governor the action of which is so controlled that when the velocity reaches a predetermined degree adjusted by the springs 517, the resistance of these springs will be overcome and the brake-shoes 512 bear upon the flange 502, which constitutes a brake-ring, to an extent dependent upon the amount of friction required to retard the shaft and keep the velocity within the necessary bounds to maintain uniformity. The uniform rotation of the piston is transmitted through the piston-rod, the toothed perimeter of the cylindro-spiral member 30, pinions 100 and 102, gear wheel 103, shaft 105, clutch blocks 307, 308, shaft 306 to the planetary gears and the dials. The pinion 100 remains stationary in so far as axial displacement is concerned, and when there is no flow through the meter the upper end of the fluctuating member 30, bearing the single tooth, is slightly below the level of the pinion and is consequently free to rotate without touching the pinion, but its position is such that upon the commencement of the piston to rise and uncover the lowermost part, and the motive fluid to How, the spiral end of the member 30 will simultaneously assume a position in engagement with the pinion; and as the volume of flow increases and this member rises the operative circumferential area of the latter and the extent of rotation of the pinion increase proportionately, and decrease when the volume decreases, the fluctuations in the flow being in this manner simultaneously transmitted to the registering dials, the accuracy of this registering action being insured by the uniformity of rotation of the turbine.

Great diiliculty is experienced in all meters in maintaining a steady response to the increase and decrease of flow, and the means above described secures the required steady response under normal conditions and at the same time permits a sudden abnormal increase of flow to be accommodated and correctly registered.

What I claim is as follows 1. In a fluid meter the combination with a registering device, a displaceable rotary member, means operatively connecting the member to the registering device means whereby the fluid being measured imparts continuous rotation to the member, means whereby the fluid displaces the rotary member for the purpose of operating the registering device, means whereby the displacement of the said member alters the extent to which it drives the registering device, and means automatically controlling the displacement for the purpose of preventing vibration of the said members.

In a fluid meter the combination with a registering device, a displaceable member, means operatively connecting the member to the registering device, means whereby the fluid being measured imparts continuous rotation to the member, means whereby the fluid displaces the rotary member for the purpose of operating the registering device, means whereby the displacement of the said member alters the extent to which it drives the registering device, and means automatically controlling the displacement for the purpose of preventing vibration of the said continuous rotation to the member, means whereby the fluid displaces the rotary memher for the purpose of operating the regls- 'tering device, means whereby the displacement of the said member alters the extent to which it drives the registering device, and means automatically controlling the displacement, the said last 'mentioned means comprising a part in operative relation and moving in unison with the said member, a balance-wheel and yielding means operatively connecting the last mentioned part to the balance-wheel.

4c. In a fluid meter the combination with a registering device, a displaceable rotary member, means operatively connecting the member to the registering device, means whereby the fluid being measured imparts continuous rotation to the member, means whereby the fluid displaces the rotary member for the purpose of operating the registering device, means whereby the displacement of the said member alters the extent to which it drives the registering device means automatically controlling the displacement for the purpose of preventing vibration of said member, the said last mentioned means comprising a worm wheel intermeshing with the worm and mounted rigidly upon the shaft, a balance-wheel mounted upon the shaft, and means rotatively con-. necting the shaft to the balance-wheel.

5. In a fluid meter the combination with a registering device, a displaceable rotary member, means operatively connecting the member to the registerlng device, means connected to'the shaft to rotate therewith whereby the fluid being measured imparts continuous rotation to the member, means whereby the fluid displaces the rotary member for the purpose of operating the registering device, means whereby the displacement of the said member alters the extent to which it drives the registering device, means automatically controlling the dis placement for the purpose of preventing vibration of said member, the said last mentioned means comprlsmg a worm formed 111 one plece with the member shaft, a worm wheel intermeshing with the worm and mounted rigidly upon the shaft, a balancewheel mounted upon the shaft, and yielding means rotatively connecting the shaft to the balance-wheel.

6; In a fiuid meter the combination with a registering device, a displaceable rotary member, means operatively connecting the member to the registering device, means whereby the fluid being measured imparts continuous rotation to the member, means whereby the fluid displaces the rotary member for the purpose of operating the registering device, means whereby the displacement of the said member alters the extent to which it drives the registering device and means automatically controlling the displacement'for the purpose of preventing vibration of said member, the said last mentioned means comprising a worm formed in one piece with the member shaft, a worm wheel inter-meshing with the worm and mounted rigidly upon the shaft, a balancewheel mounted upon the shaft, and a spring and bearing upon the balance-wheel for automatically detachably rotatively connecting the shaft to the balance wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HAVELOCK TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

GORDON G. Coons. JOHN P. MOYNAUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

